- World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju has fallen below 2700 rating for the first time since 2022 after drawing with Indonesian IM Satria Duta Cahaya
- India defeated Indonesia 2.5-1.5 in round two despite being heavily favored, with the underdog team mounting a strong challenge
- Favorite teams largely advanced as expected, though several faced serious threats from lower-seeded opponents
- Montenegro delivered a major upset, holding second-seed Georgia to a 2-2 draw in the Women’s competition
Favorites Narrowly Escape as Underdogs Fight Back
The 46th Chess Olympiad 2026 produced dramatic results in round two, with most top-seeded teams advancing but not without considerable resistance from their opponents. While the favored competitors ultimately prevailed, several matches proved far closer than expected, with a handful of lower-ranked teams nearly stealing victories.
The most significant shock came in the women’s competition, where Georgia, the second seed, was held to a 2-2 draw by 48th-seeded Montenegro. The Montenegrin team demonstrated composure and tactical acuity, with performances that included victories against higher-rated opponents and showed the depth of emerging chess talent outside the traditional powerhouse nations.
Gukesh Dips Below Career Milestone Despite India Win
The headline from the men’s competition centered on World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, whose draw against Indonesian IM Satria Duta Cahaya marked a significant milestone—not a positive one. With this result, Gukesh’s live rating fell below 2700 for the first time in approximately four years, returning to a level not seen since he first crossed that threshold in 2022.
Despite the rating decrease, India secured a 2.5-1.5 victory over Indonesia in a match that could have produced a different outcome. The Indonesian team, rated significantly lower on average at 2428 compared to India’s 2720, nearly overcame this substantial gap through disciplined defensive play and capitalizing on tactical opportunities.
On board three, Gukesh’s opponent, Satria Duta Cahaya, spoke afterward about the experience. “I just tried to keep my position stable,” he explained to FIDE officials. “I thought there were many moments where he could have pushed for more, but surprisingly he didn’t.” For the Indonesian player, facing the world champion over the board was a career highlight, as he had previously played against top competitors only in online formats.
India’s Victory Hinged on Critical Moments
India’s match-winning point came on board one, where GM Nihal Sarin demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness. Facing IM Arif Abdul Hafiz, who was nearly 300 rating points lower, Sarin found himself three pawns down in a position that appeared lost. However, he orchestrated a devastating counterattack with the exchange sacrifice 28.Rxc6!, turning the tide and eventually converting his advantage despite the early material deficit.
Indonesia secured draws on the remaining boards, showing resilience against higher-rated opposition. The result demonstrated that while rating gaps provide valuable guidance, chess outcomes depend heavily on precise calculation and the ability to create practical complications.
Other Favorites Face Close Contests
Uzbekistan defeated Peru 3.5-0.5 in what appeared to be a decisive victory, but the match contained moments of drama. On board three, Peruvian IM Steven Rojas threatened an upset against GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov, though a critical decision by Rojas—playing 19…Qd7? instead of 19…dxc4—allowed his opponent to regain control and secure victory.
The United States narrowly escaped against Mongolia, with the American team winning 2.5-1.5 despite losing the first board point. Mongolia’s IM Khuyagtsogt Itgelt scored a surprising victory against GM Awonder Liang, whose 30…f6? move proved to be a decisive blunder that opened critical lines against his king. GMs Fabiano Caruana and Levon Aronian recovered for the Americans, while Hans Niemann drew his game.
Upsets and Strong Performances Across Multiple Matches
North Macedonia mounted another impressive underdog effort against the Netherlands. IM Nikola Nikolovski upset GM Casper Schoppen on board four, taking advantage of unclear play to secure an important victory. The Dutch responded through GM Anish Giri, who outplayed IM Emil Risteski in a rook endgame on board one, with the decisive advantage coming from superior king placement.
France defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.5-0.5, with GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave producing a creative performance on board one. His moves 14.Nc3! and 15.Na4!, which appeared to hang material, were part of a deeper attacking scheme that allowed him to sacrifice and recapture favorably, creating unstoppable threats in the center.
Hungary barely advanced against Colombia with a 2.5-1.5 scoreline, secured through a single decisive victory and three draws. GM Benjamin Gledura earned redemption for his previous-round loss by grinding out a victory in a rook endgame against IM Esteban Valderrama through patient technical play.
El Salvador Delivers Stunning Upset
The most dramatic result of the round came from lower-seeded matches, where 94th-seeded El Salvador upset 44th-seeded Cuba. This victory stood out as the sole significant surprise among top-ranked pairings, demonstrating that on any given day, chess offers opportunities for unexpected outcomes regardless of the rating disparity.
Looking Forward to Round Three
Round three of the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026 is scheduled for Friday, September 18, beginning at 6:15 a.m. ET, 12:15 CEST, and 3:45 p.m. IST. With several teams having narrowly survived round two and underdogs proving their capability to compete at the highest levels, the tournament continues to demonstrate why the Chess Olympiad remains one of the world’s premier competitive events.